ng unexpectedly between them
Auguste had spoiled their aim.

The smoke cleared. Raoul saw a black spot on the left side of Auguste's
white shirt. In an instant it was a spreading scarlet stain.

Auguste's eyes were shut. He fell back against Nicole, his knees buckled
and he sagged to the ground. Nicole, her skirts billowing, threw her
arms around Auguste and eased him down.

Raoul felt a surge of triumph.

_At last! I killed the sonofabitch!_

But below the triumph, like chill black water under thin ice, lay fear
of what might happen now. His knees trembled.

Raoul saw Nancy Hale staring at him, her eyes full of hate.

_Well, if I couldn't have you, he won't either._

"It was you led me to him, Nancy," he said, grinning as he saw her mouth
twist in anguish. "When you came here, we knew he was here."

"I pray that you burn in Hell for all eternity, Raoul de Marion!"

"Pretty talk for a minister's daughter," he laughed.

"Mon colonel!" Armand called. "We hear men running this way. Must be
Regulators. Let us ambush them. We have time to find hiding places."

"No," said Raoul. "We'd have to silence this bunch."

He gestured at Frank, Elysee, Guichard and Nicole, who were lifting
Auguste's body into the house.

_Will I truly have to stand trial for murder? Me? I never have before._

He stared into the empty doorway. Had he really finished Auguste? He'd
better go in there and see. But there were three armed men in there, and
if he had killed Auguste, nothing could stop them from trying to kill
him.

In fact, it might be a good idea to get away from here. With his family
all fired up and the Regulators on the way, a very good idea.

He heard Nancy scream again and again. Nicole suddenly appeared in the
doorway.

"You are not my brother anymore, Raoul. I'll bear witness against you
and so will Papa and Frank." She broke down and sobbed, then caught
herself. "You'll hang for this murder, and then, just like Nancy says,
you'll burn in Hell."

_She says it is murder. Then the mongrel must be dead for certain._

Raoul felt a vast relief. At last he had lifted from his shoulders the
burden that had crushed them ever since Pierre brought the savage boy
out of the forest.

But the relief lasted only for a moment. The fear came back. His legs
were still shaking. He wanted to run for it at once, to get a horse and
ride out of Smith County and keep going.

It wasn't just that he had killed a man. This killing w